Adjustable foot-rest



(No Model.) I

R. D. BROWN. ADJUSTABLE FOOT REST.

Patented May 12 WITNESSES I ANDREW 5.5mm. PIIUTDWQWASMNGTOMD C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RUFUS D. BROYVN, OF GARDNER, MASSACHUSETTS.

ADJUSTABLE FOOT-REST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 560,082, dated. May 12, 1896.

Application filed November 16 1895. Serial No. 569,213. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

able the user to readily change the position of the foot rest or shelf, so as to support the feet at a high or low level, as desired.

The invention consists in certain parts and details and combinations that will be fully described hereinafter, and then pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improvement. Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation of the same on the line 2 2 of Fig. 6. Fig. 3 is a similar view of the same on the line 3 3 of Fig. 6 and with parts in a different position. Fig. 4 is a like view of the same with the parts in a different position. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the improvement. Fig. 6 is a sectional front view of the same on the line 6 6 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 7 is a sectional plan view of the same on the line 7 7 of Fig. 2.

The improved adjustable foot-rest is provided with a casing A, open at the back and bottom and having the sides A and A connected with each other at the front bya crosspiece A and at the back by a pair of bars A as is plainly shown in the drawings. The casing A is mounted on casters B, so that it can be conveniently moved about in the room near to a radiator, register, or other heating medium, or to any other desired place. Now it will be seen that by the construction described the heat from a register in the floor, for instance, can pass up into the casing, as the latter is without a bottom, or when pushed against the register in the wall or against the radiator the heat can pass through the casing through the open back.

The upper end of the front piece A of the casing is formed with a flange A extending forwardly and preferably at right angles to the front to permit the operator to rest his feet on said flange when desired. Directly above this flange, between the sides of the casing A, is arranged a platform or shelf 0, formed at its side edges and near the middle thereof with trunnions or pivots engaging the arms D, arranged on the inner faces of the sides A A said arms being connected with each other at their lower ends bya cross-bar D. The upper or outer ends of said arms are pivotally connected with links E, fulcrumed at E on the inner faces of the side; A and A Each of the arms D is providafi. with ratchet-teeth D adapted to hook onto a fixed pawl F, secured to the inner faces of the sides A and A so that when the said arms D are pushed upward said ratchet-teeth D glide over the pawl F until the pressure is released, at which time the corresponding tooth D engages and hooks onto the said pawl F to hold the arms D, and consequently the shelf 0, in an uppermost position. Now in order to impart an upward motion to the connected arms D, I provide a hook or hooks G, engaging the cross-bar D at or near the middle thereof or on each end of cross-bar, said hook or hooks being secured to a transversely-extending shaft G, mounted in suitable bearings formed in the sides A and A and in a bracket A extending integrally from the front A of the casing. On one or both outer ends of the shaft G, close to the outer faces of the sides A and A are secured treadles H, adapted to be engaged by either foot of the user, so as to impart a downward swinging motion to the treadles H to turn the shaft G and move the hook G upward, so as to lift the arms, and consequently the shelf C, to the desired height. Now as soon as the operator releases the foot-pressure on either or both treadles H the arms D, by the corresponding teeth D engaging the pawl F, lock said arms D, as well as the shelf 0, in posi-,

tion. The transverse bar D is held, normally, in a lowermost position by the action of springs D connected with the cross-bar and with pins D projecting from the inner faces of the sides A and A of the casing.

In order to lower the platform or shelf 0, I

provide the following device: One or more arms I, each having an inclined top, are mounted to turn loosely on the shaft G, and each is adapted to engage the cross-bar D next to the hook G, so that when the shelf C and the arms D are in an uppermost position and a rearward swinging motion is given to the arm I then the inclined top pushes the cross-bar D so as to lift the corresponding teeth D out of the pawl F to permit the arms D to slide downward and lower the shelf 0. The arms I are provided with a downward extension I, drawn on by a spring J, secured to the lowermost cross-bar A, connecting the two sides A and A with each other. (See Figs. 2, at, and 7.) In the extension I is formed an elongated slot 1 into which extends the free end of an arm K, held on a verticallydisposed shaft K, journaled in suitable bearings on the inner face of the side A. On this shaft K is secured an arm L, extending forwardly through a transversely-extending slot A formed in the front A of the casing. The free end of this arm L projects a sufficient distance under the flange A and away from the front A so as to be engaged by the foot of the operator to push said arm L from the left to the right and cause the arm K to impart a swinging motion to the extension I and arms I against the tension of the spring J and lower the arms D and shelfO, as previously explained. When the operator releases the pressure of his foot on the arm L, the spring .I returns the said arm L as well as the arms K and I to their normal position to again permit the operator to press the treadles H and lift the shelf C whenever desired, and as previously explained.

In order to limit the swinging motion of the shelf 0 on the arms D, I provide the said shelf at its sides with lugs 0, adapted to rest on the top edges of the links E at the time the said shelf 0 is in an approximately horizontal position. 'On the sides of the shelf 0, but near the lower ends thereof, are formed lugs 0 adapted to abut against the under side of the arms D to prevent the shelf from swinging too far inward atits lower end.

In order to hold the casing A a suitable distance away from the radiator or register, I provide each side A and A at their lower rear corners with casters B, supported 011 levers B preferably made segmental and fulcrumed at B to the corresponding side A or A A clamping-screw B engaging a segmental slot A in the corresponding side A or A, serves to lock the said lever 13 either in a lowermost position, as shown in Fig. 5, or in an upper and inactive position, as shown in Fig. 1. Then the levers B are in a lowermost position, they project a suitable distance beyond the rear ends of the sides A A so that-when the casing is pushed up against the wall containing the register the casters B hold the casing a suitable distance away from the wall and register. In the casing A may be arranged a tray for containing slippers, &c.

Having thus fully described my invention,

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A device of the class described, comprising a casing, a foot-shelf or platform extending between the sides of said casin g, arms in which the said shelf is mounted to turn, a bar connecting the arms with each other, a hook engaging said bar and secured on a transverse shaft journaled in the sides of the casing, and a treadle on the end of the said shaft and under the control of the operator, substantially as shown and described.

2. A device of the class described, comprising a casing, a shelf extending between the sides of the casing, on which sides said shelf is mounted to turn, a cross-bar connecting the arms with each other, a spring-drawn arm having an inclined top adapted to engage said cross-bar, and an arm under the control of the operator, for imparting a swinging motion to said spring-drawn arm, substantially as shown and described.

3. A device of the class described, provided with a casing supported on casters, and levers fulcrumed on the sides of said casing and adapted to swing and extend beyond the back of the casing, each of the levers carrying a caster at its free end, substantially as shown and described.

4:. In a foot-rest, the combination with a casing, of a shelf, two links pivotally mounting the shelf, an arm connected to the shelf and having ratchet teeth formed thereon the ratchet-teeth cooperating with a part rigid with the casing, a spring connected to the arm, a rock-shaft, and an arm fixed on the rock-shaft and engaging the ratchet-arm, substantially as described.

5. In a foot-rest, the combination with a casing, of a movably-mounted shelf, a ratcheted arm connected with the shelf, the arm being adapted to cooperate with a part rigid on the casing, a spring actuating the arm, and means for moving the arm against its tendency to spring, substantially as described.

6. In a foot-rest, the combination with a casing, of a movably-mounted shelf, a ratcheted arm fixed to the shelf the arm cooperating with a part rigid on the casing, a spring engaging the arm, a rock-shaft, and an arm carried on the rock-shaft and capable of imparting movement to the ratcheted arm, substantially as described.

7. In a foot-rest, the combination with a casing, of a movably-mounted shelf, a ratcheted arm connected with the shelf and cooperating with a part rigid with the casing, a spring connected to the ratcheted arm, a rock-shaft, an arm carried on the rock-shaft and engaging the ratcheted arm, a lever pivotally mounted in the casing and capable of moving the ratcheted arm laterally, and means for transmitting movement to the lever, substantially as described.

8. In a foot-rest, the combination with a casing, of a shelf having two lugs at each end, two links pivotally mounting the shelf, the

movement of the shelf being limited in one direction by the engagement of two of the lugs with the said links, arms connected to the shelf, and means for moving and holding the arms, the movement of the shelf being limited in a second direction by the engagement of the remaining lugs with the arms, substantially as described.

9. Inafoot-rest,the combination witha casing having an open bottom and rear side, of a shelf within the casing, and means for adjusting said shelf, substantially as described.

10. In a foot-rest, the combination with a casing, of a movably-mounted shelf, a ratcheted arm connected to the shelf and cooperatin g with a fixed part of the casing, means for raising the ratcheted arm, a spring tending to lower the said arm, and a lever adapted to move said arm laterally and to disengage it with the fixed part of the casing, substantially as described.

11. In a foot-rest, the combination with a casing, of a movably-mounted shelf, a ratcheted arm connected to the shelf and cooperating with a fixed part of the casing, a spring actuating said ratcheted arm, a rock-shaft,

an arm fixed on the rock-shaft and capable of raising the ratcheted arm, a lever capable of engaging the ratcheted arm to disengage it with the fixed part of the casing, a spring actuating said lever, and means for transmitting movement to the lever, substantially as described.

12. In a foot-rest, the combination with a casing having an operated-shelf, of an arc shaped arm pivotally mounted on the casing, a caster carried at the free end of the arm, and means for holding the arm at various adjustments with relation to the casing, substantially as described.

13. In a foot-rest, the combination with a casing having an operated shelf and having an arc-shaped slot therein, of an arc-shaped arm pivotally mounted on the casing, a caster carried by the free end of the arm, and a setscrew operating in the slot of the casing and capable of adjustably holding the arm, substantially as described.

RUFUS D. BROWN.

Witnesses:

THATCHER B. DUNN, CHARLES E. BOYCE. 

